Curtis Strange

Curtis Strange, the last player to win back-to-back U.S. Opens, shot an even-par 71 Thursday. He shared his thoughts with www.ussenioropen.com.

Last night I went out and practiced after my round and warmed up OK this morning, which made me feel mildly encouraged coming into the beginning of the round this morning. When I birded the 10^th hole, my first of the day, I was ever more encouraged.  But as I have been doing a lot this year I gave it right back and more with a double bogey on the 12^th to fall back to one over par. And I was back into an old familiar routine.

But the day got back on track fast, when I made an ace on the par three 13^th hole.  It was a nice timing, because I was getting ready to throw up on myself.

I didn't see it go in the hole, but the grandstands were three-quarters full and they told me it went in.  It was great.  It's was my 12^th or 13^th ace, I can't remember.  Someone told me it was my first ace in competition since I made ace on the 12^th hole at the Masters.  I honestly don't remember, but it did definitely perk me up.  There are no secrets to it; our personalities are dictated to how well we play.  It's easier to stay up when you under par at the Senior Open.

I'm still not playing very well, but did play OK the last 12 holes today and I hope to keep it going if I keep working.  But it hasn't been the norm lately that I have been able to shoot a number so I'm pleased with an even-par 71 today.

I let some shots get away today, especially on the second nine by making a couple of bogeys with short irons, and while I would like to blame it on TV or layoff, that excuse is long gone.

One thing that I have been encouraged with over this period is the fact that I'm putting pretty well, but my chipping has been horrible and I'm not afraid to admit that I got the flinches with the chippies, which I don't like.  I practice great, but I just have problems on the course, which is where you save shots.

I was never a magician, like Seve [Ballesteros], Phil [Mickelson] and Tiger [Woods], but I could get it up and down in my heyday, which is something I am having trouble with now.

Going into the second round I will try to do the same thing I did on my back nine today. I played pretty well.  The key was that I told myself to stop being so mechanical and hit the golf course ball.  Hit the golf ball harder and go chase it.  This is exactly what I hope to do Friday afternoon.